Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area

Fremont (EBRP) AA - AG; 3+ mile; **; Transit; Rainy Weather Yes      MORE INFO

Quarry Lakes Park is entirely ringed in with suburban housing. Most of its 539 acres are open water, a cluster of six lakes born in the eponymous gravel quarries and now reshaped for recreation and wildlife habitat. Much of the rest is dedicated to parking, picnic lawns, swimming and fishing, but deer and jackrabbits are frequently seen near Lago Los Osos and Willow Slough, here wildflowers bloom and shrubbery and trees both native and exotic create an interesting if raggedy ungroomed environment. Most of the trees are young yet, so the shade is sparse, and the overall landscape is not remarkable. But the lakes are stocked with trout and catfish for the benefit of anglers, also attracting cormorants, terns, and white pelicans, so the birdwatching can be choice.
It's easily reached via BART, bus or Paratransit. To get there from the Union City BART station, exit onto Union Square St. and go left (south) to Alvarado Niles Road; left again two blocks, past Osprey Drive to the locked gate that excludes cars from Fox Avenue, a weed grown but smooth asphalt track to the park. There's a pedestrian entrance, and once past it, you're screened by feral pines, eucalyptus and coyote brush from nearby traffic and the BART tracks, passing an undeveloped hay field active with meadowlarks and song sparrows. This backdoor entrance enters the park behind its parking lot, becoming Western Pacific Trail (gravel, and not entirely smooth) after 0.5 mile as it passes the swim beach and its fully accessible restrooms. From there to the "Natural Unit" near Alameda Creek, where volunteers have planted wildlife friendly vegetation and constructed nest boxes and platforms, is another half-mile along the shore of Horseshoe Lake. It's possible to make a three-mile loop around the lakes, on generally medium smooth gravel, or extend your expedition to take in as much as you wish of the 12 mile trail along Alameda Creek.
Back near the main entrance, there is a rather grand ramp to a fishing pier for wheelchair users. At the swimming area, open every day in summer and weekends in spring and fall, a beach wheelchair is available, though the brochure says you're not permitted to take it in the water, which rather defeats the purpose. (510) 795-4883

Details: To drive there: From I-880, 1 mile east on Decoto Road, then right, 0.8 mile on Paseo Padre Parkway, left on Isherwood Way 0.7 mile to entrance on right. Fees charged for parking, pet dogs, swimming and fishing. Restrooms and picnic grounds are generally accessible.